Handy Crochet Tips

Here are some handy tips that should be able to help you with your projects

• when you’re working on a large project find a method for marking your stitches every 25 stitches – you can use pins, a different color thread, etc. – this will prevent tedious recounting of stitches
• if you’re attaching two pieces of work together it’s smart to use a smaller hook than the one you used to create the pieces.  This will prevent you getting bulky seams in your finished item
• weaving in your ends as you work on your crochet will help your finished project look far neater and prevents the endless amounts of time at the end of your project putting them all in!
• when you’ve got yarn left at the end of a project it’s easier to store if you put it in balls rather than leaving it in the skeins which tangle easily.
• If you’re not sure how much yarn you’re going to need for a project go ahead and start your pattern with one skein of yarn and then figure out how many rows it makes.  Once you’ve figured that out decide how large the project will be in the end and you can easily determine how many skeins you’ll need!
• Keep your crochet hooks clean by wiping them down with alcohol (if you have metal hooks) and cotton balls. This will keep them from developing a film from the yarn you’re using
• If you’re making filled toys or pillows you can use a variety of items such as old clean pantyhose, foam blocks or forms, etc.
• If you have a cat in the house and you’re worried about him or her playing with your yarn, take a small ball of your least favorite yarn and wind it up tight, insert the ends tightly into the ball and let them play while you crochet!  Make sure they know your crafts are *off limits!*
• If you’re working on a piece that is very dark yarn (such as black) you might want to consider putting a piece of white material on your lap. This will help with eye fatigue
• Used cardboard overnight envelopes are a great way to store crochet patterns – they act as folders and keep the patterns flat
• Old undershirts and other soft lightweight garments make great liners for crochet projects from toys to purses
• If you’re working with a variety of leftover yarns and you’re concerned about different weights, here’s a simple conversion chart so you can double up the yarn!

• 2 strands of fingering weight yarn = 1 strand sport weight Yarn

• 2 strands of sport weight yarn = 1 strand of worsted weight

• 2 strands of worsted weight = 1 strand of bulky

• 3 strands of worsted weight = 1 strand of super bulky or chunky weight yarn

Printing out these little tips and keeping them with your crochet work will help you keep yourself on track and you’ll never have to worry about matching up your yarns again!